Mom stress is very real. Children are adorable, but they lack empathy and compassion, so dealing with them is not easy. Naturally, you put yourself under a lot of strain trying to do everything right by your little ones. However, understand that your children need you, and the only way you can help them out is if you are happy and healthy. Never put your own mental and physical wellbeing on the backburner since that will create stress and do a lot more harm than good for you and your children.

So here are ten ways you can relieve your mom stress:

Your Kids can be Little Helping Hands

It’s true that you are the ultimate caretaker of your children, and they will be helpless without you. But that does not mean that you have to do everything related to them on your own. In fact, one of the best ways to develop your child’s mind is by making them responsible for their well-being.

I mean, we are not asking you to get your child to cook a family dinner! But ask them to take care of small tasks like cleaning up after themselves after meals, picking up their toys when they are done playing, etc. 

These small things can go a long way in reducing your stress levels, and as the children get used to taking care of themselves, they will become more and more independent as they age.

Work With Systems

Systematic parenting can go a very long way in relieving parenting stress. For example, consider meal planning. 

Every Sunday, plan meals for the whole week. This is not just for lunch and dinner at home, but also plan out lunches for your children. When you plan meals, prep for them a week in advance so that when the time comes, you only have to put in final touches.

You can also practice reward systems for yourself and for your child. Create charts of when your child is naughty or nice, and reward them appropriately when they reach a certain milestone. Consequently, you can also reward yourself with a long nap or a shopping spree every time your child achieves a milestone!

Look into systematic parenting online and find ways to incorporate it into your life for effective solutions.

Be Organized

It is very easy to get overwhelmed when you are not as organized as a parent. If we do not organize ourselves, we tend to fall prey to all of our children’s whims and fancies and forget long-term solutions.

Make sure your system includes gratification for both you and your children. For example, remember to take your children out once a week. So if you take them out every Saturday, they will not feel a need to get out of the house before that. And even if they do, you can remind them that Saturday is their day; in this way, you will not have to defer them indefinitely.

Also, ensure that there are proper places in the house for all your children’s stuff. This way, they will know where to put everything when they are done using it.

The organization is essential to reduce parenting stress.

Perfection is a Myth

We all want to be perfect parents, but it is not humanly possible to be perfect with anything. Keep that in mind, when you are dealing with your children and allow for human error on your part and their part. If you become anxious every time a plan does not work out or every time your children do not behave optimally, you will be taking up a lot of unwanted stress, which will only hinder your progress. 

Set Aside Time for Yourself

You simply cannot function optimally as a parent if you let go of yourself. Your health is every bit as important as that of your children’s so being careless with it will only do harm. 

Unfortunately, many mothers fail to realize this, which results in nervous breakdowns, stressed-out children, and an overall chaotic environment. 

Every other week, try to get together with your friends and go for a shopping spree or a spa day. You can also plan a romantic date night with your significant other to help strengthen your own relationship first. 

Keep Yourself Physically Fit

Children are highly energetic, and you have to be so as well if you want to keep up with them. So try to incorporate physical activity in your life, such as Yoga, exercise, or sports such as tennis.

Other than that, keep up to date with your medical appointments. Go to a massage parlor or a chiropractic clinic to keep your body in top shape as well.

Stay Clear Headed

Always keep your mind clear of clutter and worrisome thoughts. Meditate if you must. A mind full of worries will not be able to judge situations rationally, and you might end up overreacting to simple situations or underreacting to major situations.

Ask for Help

There is no shame in asking for the help of your loved ones for lending a hand with the children. Ask them to watch the kids on date night, or ask them to look after the kids when you are trying to catch up on your sleep. We often do not realize how many people are ready to help us out simply because we do not ask.

Talk to Other Parents

Remember that there are countless other parents around you who have successfully raised functioning adults and teenagers. All good parents can help you out with sound advice with what worked for them in their time. Join a community if you must or strike up a conversation with other moms when you are out and about.

Be an Opportunist for Fun

Remember to incorporate fun activities into your routine. Create activities that are fun for you and for your little ones. Go out to amusement parks, take vacations, play games, and be supportive. Cheer your child on in whatever endeavors they take part in. If you enjoy the fun with them, you will find the stress melting away on its own.

Featured Image by StockSnap from Pixabay